For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who
has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin (Hebrews 4:15).

I have found that many Christians struggle with the distinction between temptation and
sin. Bombarded by tempting thoughts, they conclude that there must be something pretty
sick about them. But even Jesus was "tempted in all things as we are." But
finish the verse: "Yet without sin." As long as we are in the world, we are
exposed to temptation just like Jesus was. But He didn’t sin, and we don’t have to sin
either (1 Corinthians 10:13).

The basis for temptation is legitimate human needs. We will either look to the world,
the flesh and the devil to have our needs met, or we will look to Christ who promises to
meet our needs (Philippians 4:19). The essence of temptation is the invitation to live
independently of God.

The power of temptation depends on the strength of the strongholds which have been
developed in our minds as we learned to live independently of God. If you were raised in a
Christian home where magazines and television programs of questionable moral value were
not allowed, the power of sexual temptation in your life will not be as great as for
someone who grew up exposed to pornographic materials. Why? Because your legitimate need
to be loved and accepted was met by parents who also protected you from exposure to
illegitimate means of meeting your needs. The person who grew up in an environment of
immorality may experience a greater struggle with sexual temptation simply because that
stronghold in the mind was well-established before he was born again.

Jesus was tempted to meet His own physical needs by using His divine attributes
independently of the Father to turn a rock into bread. But instead He responded, "Man
shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that proceeds out of the mouth of
God" (Matthew 4:4). We also must respond to temptation by relying on God to meet our
needs.

Dear Jesus, help me not to listen to the voice of the tempter today but to run to You
as the source for meeting all my needs.

———–

This daily devotional is published and distributed by http://www.GOSHEN.net/

It is written by Neil Anderson at http://www.ficm.org/